The Silent Generation

In November 1951 Time Magazine published an article by an unknown essayist, reflecting on its young adults (the millennials of the time), saying "It does not issue manifestoes, make speeches or carry posters. It has been called 'The Silent Generation.' But why the silence? What, if anything, does it hide?

The Silent Generation are those born between 1925 and 1942. Now, in their late 70s, 80s and 90s, this generation seems to be, the generation least spoken of. Not often enough, spoken to. While marketers and advertisers seem perpetually obsessed with tracking and predicting every move the millennials make, The Silent Generation sit quietly with wisdom spanning across more decades of change in the world, than any other generation has seen in history.

In this series we want to find out, what makes them tick. What they have come to know about life. And what do they make of the world now.

Episode 1. ANN ALEXANDER Born 27/3/33 What happens when you hear a movie trailer for a story you lived through when you were seven? Ann Alexander, lived through Winston Churchill's famous 'the darkest hour' speech days. Although easy to forget how close the world came to being taken over by the Germans, Anne still remembers. Life positioned her in many countries where she felt 'out of place', guided by a mother who taught her the value of respecting others beliefs. When Anne and her husband came to Australia as 'ten-pound poms', there was no Medicare, and the mortality rate of people (and babies), brought much more understanding of death than we have now. In this episode Anne gives Amber much needed advice on what she's learnt about death, just one week prior to Amber losing her own father. The Silent Generation is sponsored by Freedom Aged Care. Series created and hosted by Amber Petty.

Episode 2. BERNIE JACKSON Born 3/12/24 With divorce rates higher than ever in Australia and the US, it's hard to imagine how a man (Bernie), could manage to do 25 years in one marriage, and 40 years in another. But Bernie has survived more than just two, longer than average, marriages. He has survived a torpedo blast, in the middle of the night, in World War 2 by a submarine while serving for the British navy. He made it through the D Day Landings. In this episode, he recalls fascinating (and sobering) details of both events as though it were yesterday. The Silent Generation is sponsored by Freedom Aged Care. Series created and hosted by Amber Petty.

Episode 3. HELEN GRAY Born 8/1/36 Helen Gray is a woman who epitomises the kind of resilience known of The Silent Generation. Raised by a father who could still see the bright side of life, despite being thrust into the family business at 16 years after his father's sudden death. A job that required him to go door knocking collecting rent from families during The Great Depression. This resilience would help her through 12 months of isolation from her family as a child, when she fell victim to a Scarlet fever outbreak. Now in her 80s, living in the era of the 'selfie', Helen solves a mystery for Amber about why people took photos a certain way, when she was very young. The Silent Generation is sponsored by Freedom Aged Care. Series created and hosted by Amber Petty.

Episode 4. LOUISA HAMILTON Born 17/4/21 When Louisa Hamilton entered the world in 1921, the world was a very different place. King George V was ruling and Russia was entering the 'Great Famine'. It would be another 22 years before a woman would be elected into Australian Parliament. Now aged 98 years old, Louisa reflects on a life that saw her famous English descendants, the 'Hordern's', build a national retailing dynasty (Horden & Sons) in Sydney's CBD, before Louisa was even born. As a librarian and eternal book lover, of all the literature she's consumed in almost a century, it's Alice in Wonderland that resonates the most, about the way she sees 'life'. The Silent Generation is sponsored by Freedom Aged Care. Series created and hosted by Amber Petty.

Episode 5. ALAN LETTS Born 10/6/22 MARY LETTS Born 17/9/29 Mary learnt to waltz at 12 so could go to the local dance. In the late 1930s and 40s, if a man wanted the attention of girl, he didn't just 'swipe right', he had to ask her to dance. Mary shares why she believes people nowadays have got the game of love and dating, all wrong. Back in Mary and Alan's day, there was no social media, and neighbours, 'townsfolk' and the Church, played a much greater part in your life. Alan becomes emotional when he looks back on his past, and the legacy he has left over years of being one of the true great Master Potters in Australia. The Silent Generation is sponsored by Freedom Aged Care. Series created and hosted by Amber Petty.

Episode 6. CHRIS MAYOR Born 19/8/28 Growing up during or after The Great Depression, changed the course of families all over the world. Chris reflects thoughtfully on his childhood growing up in a privileged environment, with a father who owned a Rolls Royce, to a reverse in fortune created by The Great Depression. As with so many who lived through this time, feelings were not shared, and personal depression, was several decades away from being acknowledged. At aged 18, Chris's family became closely tied to the group, 'Initiatives of Change'; an organisation on a mission for conflict resolution and bridging the gaps between races. Later life saw him move to British ruled India, running a newspaper, where he would meet people like Mahatma Ghandi's grandson, and a young Dalai Lama. The Silent Generation is sponsored by Freedom Aged Care. Series created and hosted by Amber Petty.

Episode 7. NORMAN 'ED' BAILEY Born 5/11/1938 Ed Bailey is a creative legend of sorts, to many an amateur, and professional actor (think Bernard Curry from The Castle). But long before he discovered his talent and passion for music and performing, he'd grown up as a child in Wales during World War 2. Ed recalls with clarity hearing bomber planes overhead, and the house parties his parents would throw for the locals, all with a heightened desire for unbridled dancing and joy. While many of us assume living during a war brings only pain and misery, Ed reflects on a surprising upside that united people. Now at aged 78, Ed shares the toughest side to aging as a creative man and spirited man. The Silent Generation is sponsored by Freedom Aged Care. Series created and hosted by Amber Petty.

Episode 8. BARRIE WATTS Born1/10/38 Born in 1938 in Wellington, NZ in, Barrie hometown was all about science and sheep. Finding his calling at an early age, Barrie recalls the man on the front page of The Evening Post, that changed his life. The man, was a famous foreign correspondent. It was an image, that set a fire in Barrie's heart, and lead him into his own successful career as international journalist. Barrie's network of journos from various corners of the globe, gave him the inside scoop (news that wasn't allowed to go to print), on what was happening in post war Germany. With a bet being made predicting a second wave of Nazi terror, it was Barrie that won the cash with his journo's instinct on what lay ahead for the world. The Silent Generation is sponsored by Freedom Aged Care. Series created and hosted by Amber Petty.